Rack for croquet sets



y .c. KARSTADT 2,289,433

RACK FOR GROQUET SETS Fil'ed Nov. 2'8. 193a Patented July 14 1942 RACK FOR CROQUET SETS Clarence Karstadt, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Sears, Roebuck and (30., Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application November 28, 1938, Serial No. 242,794

4 Claims.

This invention relates to supporting devices and is concerned more particularly with a portable rack for croquet equipment.

It is an object of the invention to provide a portable carrier for the complete paraphernalia used in the game of croquet,

It is another object to provide a rack of the character referred to adapted to support all of the implements of a croquet set in a small cmpass.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention will be better understood upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a rack embodying features of the invention, with some of the implements in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line 33 in Fig. l, with some of the implements in full lines.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional plan views taken as indicated by the lines 4- 1 and 5-5, respectively, in Fi 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is shown at Ill a plate-like standard whose side edges I! may be received in the grooves l2 of transverse panels l3 of a frame l4. Spaced from the faces of the standard I!) are brace plates It of the frame.

The braces l6 are preferably inclined upwardly toward the standard It] so that their inner upper edges ll are spaced from the standard a distance which is slightly less than the diameter of the balls it, so that the balls may be supported by the edges ll and the adjacent front and rear faces 2| and 22 of the standard ID.

A supporting member 24 is attached to the front face 2| of the standard adjacent the upper end thereof, and is provided with an opening 26 adapted to receive the upper ends 21 of croquet mallets 2%. Attached to the rear face 22 of the standard is a supporting member 29 having an opening 3!] receiving the upper ends 21 of additional mallets 28. The braces I6 have holes 32 adapted to receive the heads 33 of the mallets. The braces could be upright or in any other arrangement and the holes formed to incline inward and downward, but as it is easier to form the holes normal to the plane of the material, especially if made of wood or the like, the braces are inclined so that when the heads of the mallets are received in the holes 32, the shanks 35 of the mallets may incline upwardly toward the standard H) as shown, the ends 21 of the mallets being easily received in the openings 26 and 3!], respectively, of the supporting members 24 and 29. The openings 26 and 30 are of such size as to afford sufficient clearance for the swinging movement of the upper ends of the mallets, necessary to enable said ends to be inserted and removed in such manner as to enable the mallet heads 33 also to be inserted in and removed from the brace holes 32.

The supporting member 24 preferably is formed with openings 36 through which stakes 31 may extend, the openings being countersunk to provide ledges or shoulders 38 upon which the shoulders 39 of the stakes may rest, clear of the mallets. The stakes may be readily raised from and inserted into supported position, as is evident from the drawing.

A second supporting member if! may be mounted on the rear face 22 of the standard preferably in the clearance 41 between the standard and the rear mallets 28. The member 40 preferably has spaced holes 42 through which wickets 43 are extended as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The panels I3 may be recessed as at E5 on the lower sides thereof (Fig. 3) to provide legs 46 to enhance the stability of the rack. The base of the rack is of ample dimensions to insure stability of the rack whether empty or fully loaded, and

the standard preferably has an opening G8 adjacent the upper end thereof to provide a handle 49 by means of which the rack and assembled equipment are rendered readily portable.

With reference to the, ball support, it will be observed that the balls need not be deposited tenderly, but may be tossed without great accuracy into the space provided therefor between the standard and the edge ll, the standard serving as a backstop to guide the balls into and prevent the balls from bouncing out of the space. Moreover, the balls are so supported as to be readily lifted out.

The rack may be made of wood or any other suitable material and finished in the desired colors and designs. The parts of the rack may be fastened together by nails, screws, adhesive or other suitable means.

The edges Il may be beveled or chamfered, for example as shown, to provide a ball-engaging surface which will not mar the balls.

Various changes coming within the spirit of the invention may be suggested by those skilled in the art, and hence I do not wish to be limited to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated by the appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

I claim:

1. A rack of the class described, comprising a standard, a base supporting said standard, a member substantially parallel to a portion of and spaced from said standard a distance less than the diameter of croquet balls so as to cooperate with said portion in supporting the balls, said member having a mallet head receiving hole inclined downward toward said standard to receive a mallet head while the mallet shank inclines upward toward said standard.

2. The combination of a rack having a standard with an upright wall and generally horizontally extending means spaced from said wall slightly less than the diameter of balls to be supported by said wall and means, whereby said wall serves as a back stop so that the balls may be tossed into and be retained in and readily lifted out of supported positions, said means having openings, adapted to receive mallet heads while the mallet shanks extend adjacent said standard.

3. A rack of the class described, comprising a standard, and a member connected to said standard and having a mallet head receiving hole having its axis extending toward said standard and its surface inclined downward toward said standard to receive a mallet head with its axis inclined downward toward said standard while the mallet shank inclines upward toward said standard, said member forming an enclosure for said hole so as to completely embrace the mallet head received in said hole.

4. A rack for croquet equipment, comprising a plate-like standard having a handle, members secured to the lower part of the standard and having upper edges spaced from opposite sides of the standard a distance less than the diameter of croquet balls so as to cooperate with the standard in supporting the balls, said members having holes inclined downwardly toward the standard to accommodate mallet heads extending transverse to the standard and thereby maintain the mallet shanks in positions inclined upward toward the standard, and supporting members secured to the upper part of the standard on opposite sides thereof and having openings to receive the free ends of the mallet shanks with substantial clearance for swinging movement of said ends as the mallet heads are inserted into and removed from the holes in the first mentioned members.

CLARENCE KARSTADT. 

